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Jack Draper is floating or maybe he is simply flying. The 23-year-old British player has achieved a couple of significant personal firsts. Playing the biggest final of his young career, he produced exemplary tennis to win the BNP Paribas Open in the California desert and in doing so sent himself into the world's top ten for the first time, securing the No.7 spot.
Draper overwhelmed Holger Rune in 69 minutes 6-2, 6-2. He is the second British player and the first since Cam Norrie in 2021 to win this championship, the first Masters 1000 of the year.
"Obviously it feels incredible to win here," Draper said. "I have been watching this tournament since I was a young guy, watching all the champions play on this big court. It means the world to me, honestly, to be able to be a champion here. I didn't think about it until obviously the last ball was done.
"Before the match, you're thinking of all kinds of scenarios in your head, a lot of doubts, thinking that you probably could lose. And just what makes it even better is that, you know, just getting through those doubts and being able to play the final the way I did. I'm really happy, really proud of my achievements this week."
Draper shot off to a 4-0 lead and had a point for 5-0 before Rune was on the score board. The Dane was just not there in the match. He had played a terrific tournament to reach the final and his experience in having previously won a Masters 100 at the Rolex Paris Masters and had been in two other such finals, including the Rolex Monte Carlo Open. Instead, it was Draper who looked the more experienced.
Rune tried to look at positives but he just could not handle the power and precision that was being poured on him and at the presentation ceremony there were a few tears from the 21-year-old.
"A lot to take out, a lot to learn from, for sure," Rune said. "Yeah, it's been good two weeks. I have been playing good matches, very good tactical matches.
"I think it was very clear that I didn't play well enough. Yeah, that's it. Some things to work on next days before Miami. That's always good feeling to feel like you can do stuff better and still I reached the finals.
"So still a good week. Obviously disappointed today, but yeah, that's how it is."
This was the second time and first time since 2021 at Indian Wells that the two finalists were ranked in the double digits and it was the first final at Indian Wells since 2009 where the players were aged 23 and under, that year it was Rafa Nadal defeating Andy Murray.
"Definitely a big moment for me getting inside the top 10, and also to win my first Masters title, just adds to my inner belief and my confidence," Draper added.
"I think yesterday (against Carlos Alcaraz), was definitely a big moment for me. I hadn't kind of felt that way on the court for a while where I felt like my energy was kind of sapped from the emotions from the match with Carlos and the environment and who I was playing.
"I think that third set yesterday was huge for me, because I came in today knowing this is a final, I might have the same feelings. But in truth, I felt kind of a bit nervous before I played, but then when I got out on the court, I felt amazing.
"I felt like I was in control. I knew what I needed to do. I just went for it and played to win. So I think definitely to put the level up on the court this week consistently, it's one thing doing it in practice and saying you're going to do it, but to be able to do it on the big stage, that's definitely a big moment for me."
The men's doubles title went to the world No.1 pairing of Marcelo Arevalo and mate Pavic; it was their first title of the year and first as a team at Indian Wells and they accounted for the unseeded team of Sebi Korda and Jordan Thompson who had won Madrid last year. It was a first-time meeting and the score was 6-3, 6-4.
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